spring 2011

& HOnEYMOOns TOO!

The Travel PublicaTion for engaged couPles & romance Travelers

DisplaY UnTil nOvEMbEr 20, 2012

destinationidomag.com

Wine Country Fashion

Fall 2012

Road Trip Nuptials

45 Awe-Inspiring Destinations

RomanticHoneymoon Locations

ReAL-LIFe DesTINATIoN WeDDINgs from China’s great Wall to Hawaii

A PinterestINsPIReD WeDDINg

&

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department HEADING

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BLUSH AND BASHFUL – Your Top Ten Etiquette Questions

Weddings tend to bring out the “crazy” in people, so make

sure you aren’t one of them by sticking to our etiquette

advice. This issue features a catch-all of the most common

and complicated issues you may face.

BACHELOR PAD – The Ultimate Groom’s Gift Guide

No matter the style of the groom or groomsman, this gift

guide has something for the man in your life. From the latest

in technology, to a tequila tasting tray, you’ll have him

yelling “Ole!”

REAL-LIFE WEDDINGS

We are continually impressed by couples’ abilities to take

their destination weddings to an even higher level of beauty,

customization and adventure. This issue features couples

who combined cultures in China, brought mind-blowing detail

to Sonoma and even partied with Elvis in Sin City. The buck

doesn’t stop there with a sentimental ceremony in Kaua’i,

Indian-fusion in Ohio (no, really!) and glam to the max in

Beverly Hills.

TO HAVE & TO HOLD

Introducing Destination I Do’s latest department: To Have &

To Hold. Essentially a love fest, these are all the latest and

greatest products which are a must-have. This issue features

all the best products for taking your beauty to the next level.

EDITOR’S LETTER

THE GUEST BOOK – A Pinterest Wedding

Pinterest, a website dedicated to all things inspirational, has

quickly taken over the wedding planning world. See how one

real-life bride used this addicting tool to organize and design

her own destination wedding.

ASK THE EXPERT – The Inside Scoop on All-Inclusives

DestinationWeddings.com shares expert advice on a

destination wedding, all-inclusive style. Discover the do’s,

don’ts and industry secrets about saying “I do” in a one-stop-

shop fashion.

FASHION FORWARD

Wine country is a quintessential must-visit on the road

to romance and it also serves as the backdrop for this

issue’s inspirational shoot. Paso Robles was the setting for

photographer, Allyson Magda, to capture laid-back, rustic

chic beauty.

DEARLY BELOVED

When this pre-wedding party crossed our desks at

Destination I Do, we knew we needed to find a way to

showcase it for all of you. This Mindy Weiss created luau will

inspire you to implement your destination’s flair on more than

just your wedding day. Find out how with her expert tips.

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DESTINATION i do

Visit our blog, destinationidomagblog.com, to get frequent updates on products perfect for weddings away, places our traveling editors visit,

beauty tips and tricks, gorgeous destination wedding dresses and all things travel, romance or wedding related! Need even more inspiration

beyond what graces our glossy pages? Visit our oh-so-lovely Pinterest page, pinterest.com/destinationido.

Looking for other locations? Check out our website to order past issues featuring: celebrity weddings, romantic castles, Thailand, Australia,

Europe, the Hawaiian Islands, the Caribbean, Mexico, countless locations in the U.S., the ultimate honeymoon hideaways and much more,

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{sonoma}THUY + HARVEY

CALIFORNIA

real-life WEDDINGS

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Words by Kelly Ryan

Images by Caroline Tran, carolinetran.net

Fast-forward seven years later to a much more serene setting of

Sonoma wine country. Thuy and Harvey’s destination wedding

was held at Beltane Ranch in Glen Ellen, California. The ambi-

ence consisted of acres upon acres of vineyards, trees and open

pastures littered with cows grazing – all of which could be easily

confused as a picture perfect postcard.

“I always knew I wanted to have our wedding in wine country,

but I never communicated it to Harvey,” Thuy says. “After we be-

came engaged I asked him where he wanted to get married and

he said the words I wanted to hear…[wine country].” The destina-

tion was set.

One obstacle the couple needed to work around was their family

and friends’ busy schedules which was part of their reasoning for

a destination wedding. Being able to create a vacation-type wed-

ding would enable all of their loved ones to congregate, relax

and spend quality time together all in one place, Thuy says. The

guests were thrilled to be out in wine country to celebrate the

couple’s love and to get a reprieve from everyday stresses.

The couple kept the planning process simple and stress-free by

using websites and magazines, but Thuy says the real life-

saver was hiring a wedding planner who led them through the

wedding agenda step-by-step. With only their cherished ones

present, the guest list topped out at 103 people and the couple

was able to spend quality time with everyone on the biggest day

of their lives.

Thuy gracefully sauntered down the aisle to Pachebel’s "Canon"

as her Sonoma postcard glowed behind her soon-to-be husband.

“We were both right there, in the moment and feeling every

bit of it,” she says. “When it came time to read our vows to one

another, we were overcome with emotions…everything about the

moment was so pure.”

The reception followed shortly after the ceremony. With weather

close to perfection, dinner was held outside and come sunset,

the couple danced to Chantal Kreviazuk’s “Feels Like Home”

and soon the chance to let loose, be merry and dance the night

away was on everyone’s mind. “As we dined and danced under

the stars and twinkling lights, I really knew we were all in the mo-

ment and celebrating love and togetherness. It was a moment to

remember,” Thuy reminisces.

When it comes to planning a destination wedding, Thuy has one

piece of advice. “Nothing really matters but the love you have

for one another and for the friends and family who are all there

to celebrate with you,” she advises. “Enjoy it, soak it in, be 100

percent present and you will have the time of your lives.”

real

-life

WED

DING

S

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Las Vegas is usually a city

of gambling, partying and a chance

to justify carelessness, but for one

couple, this city of sin is where they

found love. Having met through

a mutual friend, Thuy and Harvey had

a natural spark which ignited after the

couple left the “gambling capital of

the world,” proving what happens in

Vegas doesn’t have to stay in Vegas.

“As we dined and danced under the stars and twinkling lights, I really knew we were all in the

moment and celebrating love and togetherness. It was a moment to remember.”

Photographer: Caroline Tran, carolinetran.net, Wedding Planner: 8events (Patty Lee), 8events.com, Ceremony/Reception Site: Beltane Ranch, beltaneranch.com, Gown Designer: Monique Lhuillier, moniquelhuillier.com, Florist: Flower Divas, flowerdi-

vas.com, Groom's Attire: suit from Hugo Boss, hugoboss.com; shoes: Prada, prada.com; tie: Armani, armani.com, Bridesmaids' Attire: Priscilla of Boston, Makeup Artist: Taylor Pham of Mimi & Taylor Salon, mimi-taylor.com, Invitations: Paper Chez,

paperchez.com, Cake: Fleur de Lisa Wedding Cakes, fleurdelisacakes.com, Caterer: Alex’s Catering, alexscatering.com, Rentals: Milk Glass Vintage Rentals, milkglassvintagerentals.com; Wine Country Party, winecountryparty.com

real-life WEDDINGS

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last THOUGHTS" A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:

Its loveliness increases; it will neverPass into nothingness..."

– John Keats, Endymion

Image courtesy of Caroline Tran, carolinetran.net

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